A new survey by the National League of Cities shows that child care and early childhood education are high on the agenda for city leaders. That heightened attention to the early years also has some mayors worried about Bush administration efforts to change Head Start.

Rob Capriccioso comments on a children's rights issue for the 21st century: the record industry's recent flood of lawsuits against kids (and adults) over downloading music from the Internet for free.

Remember your first trip to the top of a really tall playground slide? Remember the kid who got to the top of ladder, but couldn't get up the nerve to slide—or climb back down? Modern safety concerns have made this particular rite of passage rare, and raise the question, does a safe playground have to be boring? By Rob Capriccioso.

This August, we're going to shine a spotlight on Web sites that put the words and work of young people center stage. This week, meet WireTap, a national nonprofit based in San Francisco that bills itself as "the independent information source by and for socially conscious youth." WireTap posts a weekly on-line magazine; acts as a portal to other youth media sites; and hosts a gallery of artwork and poetry by young people. Here's a story from the June 19, 2003 edition.

Summer is a great time for kids to spend time outdoors and learn about nature. One classic summer pastime—fishing—is brought within reach of thousands of children through a national kids’ fishing derby. Connect for Kids’ Rob Capriccioso explains how the program works, and how to find an event near you.

For the nearly one million low-income children now enrolled in Head Start programs across the nation, change is in the air. President Bush says Head Start needs to make early education the top priority--but many experts and advocates believe the traditional Head Start focus on the whole child is key to the program's success. Cecilia Garcia visited a Washington, DC-based Head Start center to learn more.

A steady paycheck and a career track are great; but some low-income school children dream of something different, like starting their own businesses and being their own bosses. Connect for Kids intern Kate Ashford looks at a national program designed to give these kids the tools they need to succeed.

Almost 7 million young boys and girls take part in the activities of 4-H clubs around the country. Aline Newman talks about the special role that 4-H (for Head, Heart, Hands and Health) played in her family and her rural New York community.

These teenage girls use frozen waterways as roads, traveling in snowmobiles and four-wheelers to save the lives of residents of remote Alaskan villages. They're not superheroes—they're the Dragon Slayers, a trained emergency medical crew. Holly St. Lifer reports.

Would you entrust a group of kids with a pot of money to give away? Michigan’s Youth Advisory Committee is doing just that. Leanna Skarnulis reports on youth organizations that are nurturing future leaders and proving kids can tackle tough community problems.